Background
Domaine de Pouchégu was a producer of armagnac and floc located in the Ténarèze subregion. After its proprietor, Pierre Laporte, passed away in the mid-2010s, no indication has been given that the estate plans to continue distilling armagnac. According to this article from Sud Ouest, the domaine was at least 150 years old in 2013, and its origins trace back even further.
This bottle, part of Heavenly Spirits’ “Rare Armagnac Collection,” comes from the 1990 vintage. It was aged in new Limousin oak for thirty years and bottled at a cask strength of 57.7%.
Tasting
On the nose, there’s loads of heavy, dank wood, then black pepper, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, tobacco smoke, bittersweet chocolate, and Oloroso sherry. Mingled in with these relatively friendly aromas are some sulfur, varnish, and a wisp of browned beef, almost like a smashburger.
The palate is dry and intense. I get treacle, cola, black pepper, fresh pear, bittersweet chocolate, orange essence, Oloroso sherry, and a little more of that smashburger patty from the nose.
Verdict
Beastly! The potent new oak influence and borderline funky character is bound to charm some drinkers, but my preferences lie elsewhere within armagnac. Older Pouchégus have tended to garner more praise than the 1990 has, so if this sounds like your kind of thing, it might be worth splurging on an 80s vintage. (6/10)